This Simple Treatment Could Put an End to Migraines—Instantly

Medication offers a fast and effective way to relieve the searing pain caused by a migraine, but for those seeking a natural solution, there aren't a lot of treatments available. Josh Axe, DNM, DC, CNS, previously spoke to us about the benefits of using essential oil to soothe migraines, but when we shared this story with you on Facebook, you made us aware of another natural solution that's surprisingly effective: daith piercings.

"My daughter had [migraines] daily after a bad concussion," one user told us on Axe's Facebook page. "The piercing hurts … but her description was her headache changed locations and by the time she drove home her headache was gone. For the next two days she said it felt like she was trying to get a migraine but it wouldn't come." The post was peppered with over 400 comments, many from people who had soothed migraines using this under-the-radar treatment.

A daith piercing is a piercing in the innermost cartilage fold of the ear, Huffington Post Australiaexplains. "Advocates say it works in the same way as acupuncture, targeting pressure points on the body's surface to ease discomfort." Acupuncture works by stimulating nerves in the muscle tissue, which causes the body to produce pain-relieving substances like endorphins.

"There isn't a lot of hard science behind the correlation between daith piercings and headache relief," cautions pain relief expert Thomas Cohn. "Some people have found relief with this method, but it certainly won't work for everybody." While daith piercings affect everyone differently, he notes that the location of the piercing has been known as a key area to target for pain relief. "Acupuncturists target this area during sessions, and many people experience short-term headache relief after treatment."

Have you had a daith piercing? Tell us if you'd recommend it to other migraine sufferers.